Adjustable trailer front end support



v' April 9, 1940.

W. VUTZ ADJUSTABLE TRAILER FRONT END SUPPORT meer@ Ave?,

aisle PATENT Orifice This invention relates to improvements inv twowheeled trailing vehicles such'as tractor-drawn manure spreaders.

One of theobjects of the invention is the 'pro-v vision oi a simple and durable forward end supporting device in which are incorporated means for adjusting the height of the spreader hitch or coupling pole. The value'oi the feature .by which an adjustment oi height is made will'be seen when it is explained that in designing the trailer spreader, the distribution of weight is such that while the major portion is carried by the spreader wheels, a certain portion off the 'weight is thrown forwardly to be assumed by the 1B tractor or other towing implement so as to avoid an undesired liftingA eiect on the tractor. As it is often desirable to carry a percentage of thetotal trailer load on the tractor draw bar which is greater than is convenient to handle without pling.. the present designl provides SUPPOrtingmeans for the trailer hitch substantially in working position whenthe trailer is unccupled; and it moreover provides safe and quick means to adg5 just the trailer hitch to the height of the tractor drawbar either with a fully loaded trailer or an'v empty one. It can be seen in view of this weight distribution that it is preferable to be able to adllustably 30 elevate or lower the spreader hitch to accommodate the same to the height of the tractor towing arrangement. This object is accomplished in the improved device as will be seen from the description in connection with the drawing. The device also serves as a strut to support the spreader when detached in a substantiallyhorizontal position.

Another object is the provision of animproved device oi the character described in which means are incorporated for readily placing the devicel in the traveling position where 'interference with v the groundv is avoided,` and as readilyreplacing in operative position. y

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is afragmentary perspective view of so' much-oi a typical two-wheeled spreader as is. necessary to illustrate the device and the manner in which it is embodied with the spreader itself. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary. side elevation of the 50 mechanism seen in Fig. vl and is'on substantially the same scale.

' Fig. 3 is a partial transverse sectional view taken on the line t-Iof Fig. `2. the view-being on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a partial transverse sectional vlewon 'some assisting means when coupling or uncou- Goldwater., Ohio, assigner to New,

october 14, 1939, 'serian No. :99.448 I reclaim (c1. zei-4c) the same scale as F193. the section being taken on the lined- 401113. 2. Fig.v 5v is apartial Itransverse sectional view on the line oi Fig. 2, the scale being the same'as in Figs. 3 and 4. 1 e '.Fig. 6 is lan elevation of. the opposite side of the portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. '7 is a section on the line -l of Fig. 6. Referring' to lthe drawing, theforwaid portion ci the spreader b ed only is'shown and is indilo cated at I. Attached to the under side o the spreader bed frame is a vpair of angle members 2` and .3 whichvare extendediorwardly and convvverge to formv a V. vforwardly-of the bed and which are further extended in substantially par- 3l -allel -relation as shownat i2' and 3'. The angle members 2 and 3 will be considered as a forward. 7

frame structure to distinguish from a third member 4 in the iorrn of an upturned channel which in the present case is employed as the actual. 20

hitch member, ity being bolted by bolts 5 and 5' lzietweg the downturned legs of frame members A. hitch member such as indicated at 4, may

or may not be necessary depending von the type 25 y ci' hitch arrangement found on the tractor or other.

- towing implement. .At 8 there is conventionally shown a portion of a tractor draw bar; in Fig. 1

it is assumed that the spreader is detached, while in Fig. 2 it is coupled to -the tractor. 'I'he cou- 30 pling pin, Fig. 2, is represented at 7. it passing through an opening 8in the horizontal portion of the hitch member 4 and through an aligned opening 9 in a guide strip l0 attached lto the member 4. Itwill be understood that although' 55 the spreader wheelshave been omitted in the drawing, support fo'r the spreader when coupled is afforded by the tractor drawbar 6 and the. wheels. As a supporting means for the spreader. for- 40 ward end when uncoupled as in loading when the tractor is being put to other uses, there is provided the device now to be described. The

support consists of a. shoe Il attached as by welding' to a pair of bars I2 and i3 which are 45 Islightly spaced apart and substantially parallel at their points of attachment with the shoe Ilv but which diverge or spread outwardly towards the forward frame members 2 and. 3 to which they are pivotally attached by the bolts I4 and l5. 50 'f Between the bars i2V and Il over the shoe Il l is inserted the lower end of a strut IB pivctally connected'by the pin l1-to the arms i2 and i3.

The strut. i8 and shoe il assume the greater portion ofthe weight o! thetorward end of the u spreader when uncoupled, the shoe resting on the ground surface conventionally represented at Il. `The downward pressure of the forward end may be said to cause an upward thrust on the l strut It which thrust is transmitted by a trunnion pin II to the hooked ends and 2|' of a pair of bent leverarms 2l and 2| which have a pivotal connection with the frame members 2 and I and witha screw and nut arrangement 1o also pivctally connected with the frame members l and l.

` 'I'he lever arms 2l and 2| are comparatively closely spaced together in substantially parallel relation as seen in Fig. 3. To the inner face of 1g each lever arm is attached as by rivets atriangular-'shaped plate such `as is indicated at 22 and 22, each of which has an aligned opening through which is passed a tube 2l which may be secured to the plates 22and 23 by welding 20 asseeninFig.3. Thetube actsasabearing for the pivotal connection of the lever arms 2l and 2| with the frame members 2 and l, the pivot pin on which the lever arms fulcrum being the pin 25 which is inserted through aligned" openings in the down-turned legs of the forward w frame members 2 and 3.

To divide the thrust between the lever arms 2li and 2|, the upper end ofthe strut it is posi,- tioned between the lever arms as seen in Fig. 1

80 or 3. when, as stated, the trunnion pin le is engaged by the hooked ends 20' and 2|', which is the` operative position, the thrust is transmitted to the frame members 2 and I through l' the previously mentioned screw and nut arrangement.

The right or forward ends of the lever arms 20 `and 2| are spread apart to receive a nut 28 threaded on a screw 21 having a crank handle 2,8, and. to provide a pivotalv connection for the I nut and lever arms, the nut is furnished with preferably integral trunnions 29 on the diametrically opposed vertical sides of the nut 26. Openings are' provided in the forward'or right hand ends of the lever arms, so that the arms pivot on the trunnions 29, v'one way to assemble the lever arms and the nut being to spring the arms apart suiilciently to allow them to pass over the ends of the trunnions.

The screw 21 has a bearing inV the horizontal portion of :an inverted U-shaped crank bracket 30, and another bearing at the lower end in the f form of a reduced vdiameter extension 21' which is inserted in an opening in a cross-bar 30' attached to the inner faces of the U-shaped bracket 30. This cross-bar 30'4 takes any4 downward thrust or the screw 21, while to prevent upward displacement of the screw through the bracket,y

a cross-pin 3| yis employed, this cross-pin preferably being a driving ilt in a transverse opening in the screw 21. The crank bracket is pivotally connected to the portions 2' and 3 of the frame members 2 and 3 by means of the previously mentioned bolt 5'. v 05 It has been previously mentioned that the downward pressure due to the l,forward weight of the spreader on the shoe was the. equivalent of or produced an upward thrust on the shoe and its strut I6 `which was transmitted to the lever arms 20 and 2|. It should now be clear that this thrust tends to lower the nut 20, which, however,- being threadedon the screw 21, transmits the thrust to the cross-barj'` .and eventually to the forward frame members 2 and l which u in effect initiated the thrust. Therefore, soylo'ng as no change is made in the position of the parts mentioned there will be no change in the relationship between the shoe Il and the frame f members, or since the shoe is resting onv the ground surface lfthis can betaken to mean that l no change occurs between the heightof the hitch member l and the ground surface.

' "Therefore, -it is seen that there is Provided a forward end supporting device of such nature as tobe-practic'allyasrigid asif ailthe parts wereili) securely bolted to the frame members with the added advantage that should it be desired to alter the elevation of the hitch member l.' whether the spreader is loaded or .not,with,re spect to the tractor vdraw-bar, it is necessary 1| only to rotate the screw 21 accordingly. That l is, if the hitch member I is too low, the screw 21v is rotated in" clock-wise direction, assuming that ythe screw has a right-hand thread, which' s elevates the nut 2| along the screw. This raising n' of the nut lifts the hitch l, since the trunnion pin Il engaged with the hooked ends uof the lever armsll and 2| becomes temporarily an immovable fulcrum, the shoe resting on the ground u surface. On the other hand, rotation of the screw in an anti-clockwise direction lowers the hitch member l. `A latch is provided to assist in retaining the trunnion pin Il in enmement with the hooked ends 20' and 2|' o f the lever arms. Thelatchisintheformofabarn, pivotally attached to the lever arm 20- by the pin 33. 'The latching end 32' of the bar l2 extends toward the trunnion pin I0 (Fig. l) to bar the pin from slipping out of engagement. To release u the trunnion, the longer end' I2" which is curved to form a handle is lifted suillciently high to 'allow the trunnion to pass over the latching end 32. The handle end 22, being heavier, returns the latch to operative position automatically on 40 being dropped.

It is preferable, after the coupling with the' tractor has been made to place the support in the traveling position so as to avoid damage to the. support by accidental contact with the 45 ground. This is readily accomplished by release Y of the trunnion pin llas just described and grasping the strut. I6 by thelcurved end It which serves as a handle, and pulling upwardly `and forwardly until the trunnion pin I9 is seated 50 in the notches 34 shownin the upper edges of the lever arms 20 and -2|. The traveling position is shown in Fig. 2. The return tov operative position is quickly made, it being necessary only to lift the trunnion pin I9 from its seat in the 5,- notches and to allow the strut to drop, the latch o being depressed as the trunnion pin passes over it and returning to: latchlng position. In making adjustments it is obvious. that some of the connected parts go through arcuate movements due to a rocking motion ontheir respective fulcrum points, for which reason the parts are pivotally mounted. For example,.in Fig. 2, different working positions as a'result of movements during adjustment are shown by dot-dash lines. 35

When the foot isr in raised position it sometimes happens'that on rough ground due to jolting and jarring the pin |9'wil1 jump. out of the notch u and allow the foot to dropto the ground. In order to avoid this there is provideda latch in 70 the form of a flat spring Il, one end of which is riveted to the outer side of oneof the lever arms 'armfhasa hole 3l which'receiv'esan end ofthe 1|.

the pin i9 the spring Alatch lies in' a position shown inv full lines in Fig. '7 andjin order to rev lease it the operator grasps the linger piece and moves it to the ,dotted line position shown in that Having thus described `my invention, I claim: j

l. In a device o f the character described, a frame structure, a shoe pivctally attached to said frame structure; a strut pivotally connected with said shoe, a trunnion carried by saidstrut, a

lever arm arrangement pivotally 1 connected with said frame structure, a nut, means at one end of said lever arm arrangement to engage said strut trunnion, and means on said lever arm arrangement for pivotally connecting the same with said nut, a screw upon which said nut is threaded', a'support for said screw pivotally connected .with the `frame structure, a latch to retain said stru-t trunnion in engagement with said lever arm arrangement when the parts are in one relationship with each other. and a second means associated with said lever arm arrangement to engage saidi strut trunnion to retain the strut and shoe after release of said strut from said latchto hold the parts in a different relationship with onel ani other. i

2. In a device of the character described,l a forward frame structure for a trailer vehicle, a weight-assuming shoe plvotally connected with said frame structure, a strut pivotally connected with said shoe, a trunnion pin on said strut, a lever arm arrangement pivotaliy connected with the frame structure, a bracket pivotaliy connected with said frame structure, an elevating and lowering screw rotatably supported by said bracket and having a crank handle at one-end, a nut threaded on said screw, a pivoted connection bey tween said nut and an end of said llever arml arrangement, a -releasable engagement between said strut and said lever arm arrangement, and a.y

latch on said lever arm arrangement cooperating with said releasable engagement.

3. In a supporting device of the character described, a frame structure, a shoe pivotally connected with said frame structure, a strut connected with said shoe, a lever arm connected with ,said frame structure, means for releasably engaging said lever arm with said strut, a latch carried by said lever arm cooperating with said means, and means for adjusting rocking said lever arm.

4. In a forward end supporting device for a trailer vehicle, a frame structure connected with said vehicle consisting of a pair of converging members forming approximately a V-shape, a weight-assuming shoe pivotally connected with said frame structure and swingable downwardly therefrom, a strut pivotally connected with said shoe and passing upwardly between said frame' members, a trunnion near the upper end of said strut, a lever arm arrangement pivotally connected with said frame structure and lying above said frame structure, means at one end oi the lever arm arrangement cooperating with said strut trunnion to releasably engage said strut and lever arm arrangement, means pivotally connected with the said frame structure and operatively connected with vsaid lever arm arrangement to adjust the relationship of the lever arm arrangement with respect-to the working parts rso that at vone working position the distance of the shoe from the frame structure is alterable,

'-means. for latching said strut trunnion in engagement with said lever arm arrangement, and

other means consisting of notches inthe lever I arm arrangement to engage with said trunnion whereby when so'engaged the shoe is at a considerably lesser distance .below the` frame strucshoe pivotally connected with said frame struc-` rtare and .swingable downwardly therefrom', a

strut pivotally connected with said shoe and passing r upwardly between said converging frame members, a trunnion' pin transversely disposed on said strut near its upper end, a lever' arm aitrangement pivotally conneted with said frame structure and lying thereabove, means at one end of said lever'arm arrangement for releasably engaging said strut trunnion pin, said lever arm arrangement consisting `of a pair of substantially identical spaced-'apart members to permit the strut to be positionedrtherebetw'een,means pivotallyconnected with the'frame structure for adjustin'g the relationship of the lever arm arrangementv wlthrespect to .the other working parts, means associatedwith said lever arm arrangement and cooperating with said'struttrunnien for releasably latcliing said strut-'with' thel leverarm arrangement to provide one working,I position of the shoe, and other means associated with the lever armarrangement and said strutfor retaining the shoe in another. position at a {gireater elevation than said iirstmentioned posion. i

6. In a device ofthe character described, a `forwardly extending 'frame member, a lever pivotally connected therewith, adjustable means at v oneendofv said lever for holding the lever in a lined position'relative to the frame member, a ground support for said frame member, `detachable means ior piyotally connecting said ground l supportwith theA other end of said leven-and e f' means at anotherpoint' on 'said lever to'engage that part of the detachable means which is connected with the ground support tofhold said support abovev the ground line.

'7. In a devicevof the character described, a forwardly extending frame member', a lever pivotally connected therewith, a ground-support, means for detachably' connecting said ground support with one end of said lever comprising at least onetru'nnion engageable with an end of said lever, adjustable means at the other end of said lever-for. holding said lever in a' xed position relative to said frame member, and means on said lever'to engage said trunnion vwhen detachedl to hold the ground support above the groundline. f I

i8. Vln a device of the character described, a forwardly extendingvframe me'xber, a lever pivotally connected therewith, adjustable means at one end of said lever iorholding said lever in a ilxed position relative to said frame member, a ground with the ground support .to hold said support 'N above the ground line .including a device for `detachably securing together'.- 9. In a device ofthe character described, a rorwardly extending mme membena lever pivotnl' said twrlastmentioned means ally connected therewith, a ground support,

means for detachably connecting said!l ground support withone end of' saidlever comprising at least one trunnion engageable with anend oi!V said lever, adjustable means at the other end of 'said lever for holding said lever in a fixed posiv f tion relative to said frame member, ya notch on said lever to engage said trunnion when detached to hold the ground support above the ground line, and a releasable spring latch connected withsaid lever and engageable with said trunnion to hold said trunnion in said notch. n

10. In a device of 'the characterdescrlbed,` a forwardly extending frame member, a lever pivotally connected therewith, adjustablemeans at one end of said lever tovary" the distancev between that end of said lever and said trame member; a

ground` support for said framey member, and. means 'for pivotally connecting said ground suppivotally and detachably connected with one end -ofsaid lever, adjustable meansat the otherend of said lever for holding said lever in fixed posiv tion with relationto said drame, and means to engage saidstrt and said lever at a point in the length of said lever remote from said detachable connections Abetween said strut and lever;

12. Inl a device. rof the character described, av

frame member, a ground support for said frame member, a lever pivoted to saidframe member intermediate the ends of said lever, means to iixedly iulcrum one end oi' said lever from' said ground support, and adjustable means to valter the other end Aoi' said lever with relation to said frame member to raise or lower said frame..

13. In a device ofthe character described,wa frame member having a hitch device at its forward end, a ground support for said trame member, a lever plvoted to said frame`member intermediate the `ends ofsaid lever, means to fixedly fulcrum one end of said lever from said ground support, and adjustable means to alter the position oi the other end of said lever with relation` to said frame member to raise or lower said frame and its hitch device.

14. In a device of `the character described, a frame member, a ground support for said frame member comprising an upwardly extending strut pivotally connected with said iframe member, a lever pivoted to said frame member intermediate 'its ends, a xed fulcrum at the upper end of said strut for one endof said lever, and adjustable means to alter the position of the other endoi said lever with relation to said frame member to raise or lower said frame.

WILHELMVUTZ. 

